Informed-Traveler-Monthly-Recap-Header_2020-Finalized

Ovation's weekly client e-newsletter, the Informed Traveler, keeps readers updated on travel industry news and trends.

Following is a recap of November's Top 5 (most clicked by Ovation clients) e-newsletter stories.

1. WHAT THE UNITED STATES' REOPENING MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL

The United States’ reopening to international travelers is a huge step in the travel industry’s recovery, likely to boost tourist attractions and possibly encouraging other countries to follow suit and reciprocate procedures, reports Travel Pulse. Andrew Crawley, Chief Commercial Officer of American Express Global Business Travel, which wholly owns Ovation Travel Group, says the reopening is a step towards economic recovery and indicates renewed enthusiasm for travel. “The reopening of the US for UK and EU citizens is a major milestone on our path to economic recovery. Transatlantic bookings have already increased by more than 70% since the Biden administration announced the restart date,” Crawley shared. “This is testament to the value of these routes and the vital role business travel plays as a connector of commerce and culture. The increase in activity, coupled with the growth of international business travel in other regions, underscores what the data has shown us throughout the pandemic. Where it’s permitted, people will travel.” The reopening is also a sign that the world is making true progress against the COVID-19 pandemic, and the United States’ reopening is a crucial step in keeping the momentum moving for the travel industry.

2. AMERICAN TO ADD NEW REFUNDABLE FARE OPTION ON HIGH-FREQUENCY BUSINESS ROUTES

American Airlines has announced that next year it will introduce a new "Main Select" fare targeting business travelers on its high-frequency business routes, reports Business Travel News. The fare type will be refundable and will include priority boarding and check-in, access to all Main Cabin seats including Main Cabin Extra, and free same-day flight changes. American will introduce Main Select on flights in the Northeast, and then throughout its network. Routes that will feature the fare include New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) to Reagan National Airport (DCA), and in additional markets such as Dallas/Fort Worth to Los Angeles. Main Select fares replace American's Shuttle product, which offered such benefits as dedicated check-in kiosks and boarding gates close to security checkpoints. The Shuttle product is currently available only on select routes in the Northeast, and American will retire the product with the introduction of Main Select fares. American doesn't yet have a planned rollout date for Main Select, according to a carrier spokesperson.

3. NEW STUDY FINDS AMERICANS MORE CONFIDENT IN BOOKING 2022 TRAVEL

A new study from the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) found that Americans are planning more travel in 2022, due to being less concerned about the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, reports Travel Pulse. According to the survey of over 1,000 participants, 48 percent said they have already made plans for travel in the first half of 2022 or plan to do so once they decide on a destination. In comparison, 27 percent of travelers said they are waiting to see what happens with COVID-19 before working out a plan for winter travel, an increase from the 19 percent during the same period last year. Commercial air travel numbers are also on the rise during the first half of 2022, with early bookings more than doubling since the 2020 holiday season, up from 24 percent to 51 percent. Additionally, a recent study from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) found that 29 percent of Americans are likely to travel for Thanksgiving and 33 percent expect to travel for Christmas, an increase from 21 percent and 24 percent, respectively, compared to last year.

4. DELTA PLANS MORE DESTINATIONS AND PREMIUM IN-FLIGHT EXPERIENCES TO EUROPE NEXT SUMMER

Delta Air Lines has announced that it plans to offer more routes, premium seats, and destinations in 2022, including a significant restoration of service enabling Delta to offer the most trans-Atlantic flights to Europe from New York-JFK and Boston. Delta’s summer 2022 schedule will jump 90% in additional capacity across to Europe, compared with summer 2021. Delta's schedule includes two new routes from Boston, to Athens and Tel Aviv, starting Memorial Day weekend in 2022, as well as restored service to cities such as Brussels, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Munich, Prague, and Zurich. In total, Delta plans to operate up to 73 daily flights to 25 destinations from 10 US gateway cities. “We’re focused on bringing back the routes and destinations our customers love, so they enjoy easy, convenient access to a comprehensive, far-reaching network throughout Europe and its neighboring regions,” said Joe Esposito, Delta’s SVP – Network Planning. “With the lifting of restrictions to the US and abroad, plus growing vaccination rates and tremendous pent-up demand, travel to Europe is expected to surge next summer – and Delta customers are assured to enjoy every moment from curb to claim.”

5. TSA SEES HIGHEST NUMBER OF TRAVELERS SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC AHEAD OF THANKSGIVING

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened more than 2.24 million travelers on Friday, November 19, the highest number screened in a single day since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Travel + Leisure. The last time the TSA screened this many travelers on a single day was February 28, 2020, when the US saw more than 2.35 million people travel through its airports. In total, more than 8.5 million travelers flew from Thursday to Sunday, including four straight days when there were more than 2 million travelers each, according to TSA data. The record number comes ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, during which experts anticipate overall travel numbers will be within 5% of what they were in 2019. Last week, the TSA said it expects to screen about 20 million travelers during the busy Thanksgiving travel period, which lasts from Friday, November 19, to Sunday, November 28.